Results 141-160 of 527 for speaker:Mary Wallace

Garda Deployment. (11 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: I thank Deputy Blaney for raising the matter of the tragic events of the past few days in Northern Ireland. I add my voice to that of the Taoiseach and the other Members of the House who spoke in support of today's all-party motion condemning these killings and expressing deep sympathy for the families of the victims. The Garda Síochána is in very close contact with the Police Service of...

Schools Building Projects. (11 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: I thank Deputy Bruton for raising this important matter and I will endeavour to demystify the system and explain the steps taken as part of the building process. This debate provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Department's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position with regard to the building project for Mount Temple Comprehensive...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: Responsibility for the enforcement of food safety legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). The Food Safety Authority of Ireland oversees the regular monitoring of the bacteriological quality of the Irish food supply. This includes the sampling and testing of meat and poultry products at the processing, retail and catering stages of the food chain. The sampling and...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: Following the recommendations of the Report on the Task Force on Violence against Women in 1997, Regional Planning Committees (RPCs) were established in each of the eight former health board regions to draw together the services available to women in each of these regions in order to consolidate an approach to the treatment of victims of violence. A wide range of groups consisting of public,...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214, 215 and 220 together. As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Seanad: Nursing Education (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue for his area. By way of background I should explain that following the publication of the 2009 Estimates for public services, the Health Service Executive was tasked to deliver savings of €115 million. Among many other issues, a reduction in nurse training expenditure is needed to contribute to achieving these savings. The total cost...

Seanad: Mental Health Services (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: I thank Senator McFadden for raising this issue as it provides me with an opportunity to outline the plans for the closure of the remaining old psychiatric hospitals. As the Senator mentioned, A Vision for Change is the report of the expert group on mental heath policy. It provides a framework for action to develop modern, high quality mental health services over a seven to ten-year period....

Seanad: Mental Health Services (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: Although the building is a protected structure, I know the Senator would not say it was necessarily the most appropriate place for modern care for the patients involved.

Seanad: Mental Health Services (10 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: I refer to the plan about which the Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, was advised when he visited Mullingar. He was advised that the development control plan for the hospital had been finalised. The phased relocation of the patients to more community-based facilities has commenced. That is not to say it is being implemented, but there is a plan for it.

Written Answers — Eating Disorders: Eating Disorders (4 Mar 2009)

Mary Wallace: Implementation of the recommendations of the National Taskforce on Obesity is ongoing. A wide range of initiatives have been taken by various Government Departments and Agencies. Since becoming Minister of State with responsibility for Health Promotion, I have made tackling obesity one of my keys priorities. It is my intention to work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that a coherent...

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme: Statements (26 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: I welcome Deputies' valuable contributions to the debate on the development of a retinopathy screening programme. I concur with the point made by many Deputies that the development of a screening programme is an important preventative measure in dealing with one of the most distressing complications arising from diabetes, namely diabetic retinopathy, which can result in blindness. I assure...

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme: Statements (26 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: Funding of €750,000 has been allocated for 2009 and a recruitment process is in train. Several speakers referred to podiatry, while others, including Deputy Perry, raised the issue of a diabetic register. This matter is under consideration in the HSE which is working on details. The issue of consultant diabetic posts was also raised. The number of posts has been increased and figures...

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme: Statements (26 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: Deputy Reilly indicated the obesity task force report featured 128 recommendations. The report made 93 recommendations, most of which have been acted upon by the Department of Health and Children or Health Service Executive. For example, we established an action plan for implementation across various Departments and agencies, including the Irish Heart Foundation. Deputy Reilly is concerned...

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme: Statements (26 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the HSE document, Framework for the Development of a Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme for Ireland, which was published in November 2008. Diabetes is a chronic and progressive metabolic disease. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, or insulin dependent diabetes, accounts for approximately 10% of all cases of diabetes. It affects...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (24 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177, 230 and 231 together. At present EU food labelling legislation is harmonised by Council Directive 2000/13/EC, transposed in 2002, with seven amendments since. In January 2008, the European Commission presented its proposals on updating and harmonising this legislation. The proposal is still under discussion and it is not expected that the Regulation...

Schools Building Projects. (19 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the House the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and also to outline the current position in relation to the future plans for Gaelscoil Bharra, Cabra. Modernising facilities in the existing building stock, as well as the need to respond to emerging needs in areas of...

Written Answers — Food Suppliers: Food Suppliers (19 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: The information requested is being provided by the Health Service Executive and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.

National Health Strategy. (19 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: One of the main purposes of the national men's health policy is to bring a greater focus on the needs of men as a population group. The policy, which aligns itself with existing policies and strategies, focuses on the need to ensure services are reconfigured to reflect best available evidence of what will work to deliver the desired outcomes. I am satisfied that much can be done within...

National Health Strategy. (19 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: No additional resources have been allocated to this because much of what is contained in the report can be done within existing resources with regard to reorientating services. Before launching the document I went through it to establish what can be done within existing resources. This is a matter of doing business differently and making it more accessible to men. We know the traditional...

National Health Strategy. (19 Feb 2009)

Mary Wallace: In many cases it is a matter of making places more accessible and encouraging men to know more about their health and to do something about it. I refer to health in a broader sense than just medical health, including well-being. This involves many Departments and it involves people taking more physical activity, and what the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism should do. We need to...